Encouraging Stats

[White Noise]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/09082011/58/premier-league-match-facts-fulham-v-aston-villa.html



Premier League - Match facts: Fulham v Aston Villa


Tue, 09 Aug 06:15:00 2011


Facts and figures ahead of the Premier League clash between Fulham and Aston Villa at Craven Cottage.

Fulham scored the highest percentage of goals from headers (31%) in the 2010-11 Premier League.

Eight of the last 13 Premier League games between Fulham and Villa have ended as draws.

Aston Villa dropped more points (26) from winning positions than any other team in the 2010-11 Premier League.

Fulham conceded the highest percentage of first-half goals (63%) in the 2010-11 Premier League.

The Whites conceded just 23% of their goals from set pieces, the lowest percentage in the top flight.

Aston Villa conceded a joint league-high 14 goals from corners in 2010-11.

The Villans have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 20 Premier League away games.

Fulham have lost just one of their last nine Premier League home matches.

The Londoners have kept six clean sheets in their last nine matches at Craven Cottage but conceded seven in the last two.

34% of the goals Villa conceded were netted in the final 15 minutes of games, a divisional high in 2010-11.

Opta

[ImperialWhite]

Shall we make this the "Aston Villa preview thread"? I'd love to have a regular thread discussing the opposition (in addition to our usual predict the score/predict the line up threads).

BetFair thinks:

Fulham 2.2 (45%)
Draw 3.4 (29%)
Villa 3.75 (27%)

As usual for us, they predict a low scoring match.
Fewer than 3 goals (<2.5) 1.78 (57%)

The two most likely outcomes are 1-1 (1st) and 1-0 (2nd).

Previous meetings

05/02/2011 Aston Villa 2-2  Fulham
06/11/2010 Fulham 1-1  Aston Villa
30/01/2010 Fulham 0-2  Aston Villa

Our form

Fulham 2-0  RNK Split
RNK Split 0-0  Fulham
Fulham 4-0  Crusaders
Crusaders 1-3  Fulham
NSI Runavik 0-0  Fulham
Fulham 3-0  NSI Runavik

Aston Villa's form
Braga 1-1  Aston Villa
Aston Villa 0-2  Chelsea
Aston Villa 1-0  Blackburn
Aston Villa 1-0  Liverpool
Arsenal 1-2  Aston Villa
Aston Villa 1-1  Wigan

[ImperialWhite]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/aug/01/premier-league-preview-aston-villa

[Maidstone Lee]

I still think we'll win this 2-0.

[ImperialWhite]

Possible Villa lineup*



*caveat - the Villa starting XI is not set in stone. The Villa fans don't settle on anyone squad (or formation, even). It also looks like McLeish has been experimenting during pre-season.

[ImperialWhite]

http://www.setanta.com/ie/Articles/2011/08/09/NZogbias-fitness-claim/gnid-103751/

N'Zogbia claims that he will be fit enough to play Saturday.

[Sheepskin Junior]

It's a good thing to know that Villa can't defend corners and we can score a lot from corners. Goal from Brede?

[ImperialWhite]

It's a good thing to know that Villa can't defend corners and we can score a lot from corners. Goal from Brede?

Corner - Hangeland+Dempsey+Senderos lurking - an uncertain Villa back four - easy goals!

[os5889]

It's a good thing to know that Villa can't defend corners and we can score a lot from corners. Goal from Brede?

I think they will be tight at the back, every Mccleish team has been good defensively just somewhat inadequate when going forward

[clintclintdeuce]

I still reckon a 3-1 thumping.

[ImperialWhite]

Bent will be playing on Saturday according to McLeish:

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_7093664,00.html

[Fernhurst]

Thanks for posting IW....... actually a better line-up than I envisiged.

After losing Young, Barry, Downing and Milner, I thought they would look a little more "threadbare"

Good attacking midfield, with Albrighton and Insomnia providing a right handful for our defenders. Their weakness is evident in the centre of defence and Petrov has slowed down to the point where is thinks Smurph is lightening ..... interesting opening fixture.......My 5-0 prediction will need to be revised though to a bit of a fearful 1-0.